Some parents criticised the school for going too far and "stealing Christmas".

He said the challenge was to make students consider the way in which society celebrates Christmas and think about the social problems that arise around this time.

"Students were asked to challenge the status quo - to ask 'why should we do things just because we have always done them?' and... to question whether non-religious people should celebrate a religious festival?"

Previously Mrs Paul told pupils there would be "no cards, no parties, no gifts and no Christmas tree."

"Christmas is a day celebrating the birth of Jesus and should be a time of good will to all, yet it can be a very stressful, expensive, argumentative and lonely time," she said.